Chris Froome is set to leave Team Ineos at the end of the season after ten years

Seven-time Grand Tour winner Chris Froome will leave Team Ineos at the end of the season to bring to an end a decade-long association with Sir Dave Brailsford’s team.

The four-time Tour de France winner has been strongly linked with a move to the Israel Start-Up Nation team after seeing his leadership role within Ineos challenged by the emergence of both Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, who have won the past two editions of the Tour.

Brailsford said: ‘Chris’s current contract comes to an end in December and we have taken the decision now not to renew it.

Chris Froome will leave Team Ineos when his contract expires in December after ten years 

‘We are making this announcement earlier than would usually be the case to put an end to recent speculation and allow the team to focus on the season ahead.’

Froome, winner of the Tour in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, suffered career-threatening injuries in a high-speed crash during a recon ride at the Criterium du Dauphine last summer, ruling him out of that year’s Tour.

He has made this year’s race his sole target after a gruelling rehabilitation as he aims for what would be a record-equalling fifth Tour crown, and until recently there had been speculation he could make a rare mid-season move due to the emerging rivalries within the Ineos team.

He said he would always treasure the memories after winning four Tour de France titles

Froome said: ‘It has been a phenomenal decade with the team, we have achieved so much together and I will always treasure the memories.

‘I look forward to exciting new challenges as I move into the next phase of my career but in the meantime my focus is on winning a fifth Tour de France with Team Ineos.’

Israel Start-Up Nation have declined to comment on reports linking them with a move for Froome.